The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (July 26) announced the following senior appointment. Dr Pang Fei-chau will be app… read more
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (July 26) the external merchandise trade statistics for June 2018. In June 2018, the values of Hong Kong’s total exports and imports of goods both recorded year-on-year increases, at 3.3% and 4.4% respectively.
In June 2018, the value of total exports of goods increased by 3.3% over a year earlier to $340.3 billion, after a year-on-year increase of 15.9% in May 2018. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 4.4% over a year earlier to $394.5 billion in June 2018, after a year-on-year increase of 16.5% in May 2018. A visible trade deficit of $54.1 billion, equivalent to 13.7% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in June 2018.
For the first half of 2018 as a whole, the value of total exports of goods rose by 9.3% over the same period in 2017. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 10.5%. A visible trade deficit of $273.7 billion, equivalent to 12.2% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in the first half of 2018.
Comparing the second quarter of 2018 with the preceding quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total exports of goods increased by 1.5%. Meanwhile, the value of imports of goods increased by 1.7%.
Analysis by country/territory
Comparing June 2018 with June 2017, total exports to Asia as a whole grew by 1.1%. In this region, increases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations, in particular Vietnam (+19.4%), Thailand (+19.3%), Malaysia (+14.9%), the Philippines (+8.1%), Japan (+4.9%) and the mainland of China (the Mainland) (+2.9%). On the other hand, decreases were recorded in the values of total exports to Taiwan (-25.0%) and India (-23.7%).
Apart from destinations in Asia, increases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations in other regions, in particular Germany (+12.7%) and the USA (+10.3%). Concurrently, a decrease was registered in the value of total exports to the United Kingdom (-23.6%).
Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports from most major suppliers, in particular Malaysia (+77.5%), Korea (+17.3%), Singapore (+12.2%), the Philippines (+6.1%), Thailand (+5.4%), the USA (+2.0%) and the Mainland (+1.2%). Concurrently, a decrease was registered in the value of imports from India (-15.9%).
For the first half of 2018 as a whole, year-on-year increases were registered in the values of total exports to most major destinations, in particular Singapore (+13.2%), Germany (+12.8%), the Mainland (+11.9%), the USA (+9.5%), Thailand (+9.1%) and the Netherlands (+8.6%). However, a year-on-year decrease was registered in the value of total exports to India (-21.4%).
Over the same period of comparison, year-on-year increases were registered in the values of imports from most major suppliers, in particular Malaysia (+88.7%), Korea (+20.9%), Taiwan (+14.9%), the Philippines (+9.7%), Singapore (+9.1%) and the Mainland (+8.6%). On the other hand, a year-on-year decrease was registered in the value of imports from India (-20.5%).
Analysis by major commodity
Comparing June 2018 with June 2017, increases were registered in the values of total exports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $13.6 billion or 11.5%), “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $2.0 billion or 5.6%) and “miscellaneous manufactured articles (mainly jewellery, goldsmiths’ and silversmiths’ wares)” (by $1.3 billion or 7.3%). However, a decrease was registered in the value of total exports of “non-metallic mineral manufactures” (by $3.5 billion or -19.8%).
Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $13.4 billion or 9.7%), “petroleum, petroleum products and related materials” (by $5.0 billion or 99.6%) and “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $3.9 billion or 12.1%). However, a decrease was registered in the value of imports of “telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment” (by $4.8 billion or -7.9%).
For the first half of 2018 as a whole, year-on-year increases were registered in the values of total exports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $115.9 billion or 18.4%), “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $34.6 billion or 18.9%) and “miscellaneous manufactured articles (mainly jewellery, goldsmiths’ and silversmiths’ wares)” (by $19.3 billion or 20.1%). However, a year-on-year decrease was registered in the value of total exports of “non-metallic mineral manufactures” (by $17.1 billion or -16.5%).
Over the same period of comparison, year-on-year increases were registered in the values of imports of most principal commodity divisions, in particular “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $123.4 billion or 17.1%), “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $39.0 billion or 24.8%) and “petroleum, petroleum products and related materials” (by $13.1 billion or 38.1%). However, a year-on-year decrease was registered in the value of imports of “telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment” (by $7.1 billion or -2.1%).
Commentary
The value of merchandise exports grew further over a year earlier in June, albeit at a decelerated pace against a high base of comparison. Exports to many major markets registered growth of varying degree.
Looking ahead, while growth momentum of the global economy has been sustained so far this year, rising trade conflicts between the US and other major economies could weigh on global economic sentiment and trade expansion going forward, posing downside risks to Hong Kong’s export outlook. The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Further information
Table 1 at the annex presents the analysis of external merchandise trade statistics for June 2018. Table 2 presents the original monthly trade statistics from January 2015 to June 2018, and Table 3 gives the seasonally adjusted series for the same period.
The values of total exports of goods to 10 main destinations for June 2018 are shown in Table 4, whereas the values of imports of goods from 10 main suppliers are given in Table 5.
Tables 6 and 7 show the values of total exports and imports of 10 principal commodity divisions for June 2018.
All the merchandise trade statistics described here are measured at current prices and no account has been taken of changes in prices between the periods of comparison. A separate analysis of the volume and price movements of external merchandise trade for June 2018 will be released in mid-August 2018.
The June 2018 issue of “Hong Kong External Merchandise Trade” contains detailed analysis on the performance of Hong Kong’s external merchandise trade in June 2018 and will be available in mid-August 2018. Users can download the publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp230.jsp).
Enquiries on merchandise trade statistics may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section (2) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 5042). read more
The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, today (July 26) met with university students participating in the Administrative Service Internship Programme to learn about their internship experience. He encouraged them to apply for the post of Administrative Officer (AO) after graduation.
Mr Law said that AOs play a key role in the Government and are regularly rotated to different bureaux and departments, where they take up duties including formulation of public policies that are closely related to people’s livelihood, as well as allocation and monitoring of public resources.
He said, “I encourage students who are committed to serving the community to actively consider applying for the AO post in the new round of recruitment exercise which will commence in September.
“Every year we see keen competition in the AO recruitment exercise. We received over 17 000 applications last year and finally appointed 33 AOs, six of whom had participated in the Administrative Service Internship Programme in the past. In fact, in the recruitment exercises in recent years, many of the interns successfully passed different stages of the selection process and were offered appointment as an AO.”
The Civil Service Bureau has conducted the Administrative Service Internship Programme for years, giving students who wish to pursue the AO career an early opportunity to get some hands-on experience of working in the Government, thereby facilitating their future planning. This year, a total of 51 university students have been posted to 18 government bureaux and departments, taking up duties similar in nature to those of AOs.
Miss Rachel Law, who is studying abroad and came back to Hong Kong this summer to join the internship programme, was posted to the Labour Department where she assisted in policy research and review, and participated in the preparatory work for public consultation exercises. She thanked her supervisors for their guidance and sharing, which enlightened her on the need for the Government to deliberate issues from multiple perspectives and strike a balance of interests in the course of formulating policies.
Interested in public policy, Miss Law said she would like to apply for the AO post as she considers the AO job diverse and challenging with opportunities to meet people from all walks of life.
Mr Dexter Yuen, who is an undergraduate majoring in law and politics, took up his internship at the Narcotics Division of the Security Bureau, where he was involved in the preparatory work for the mutual evaluation of Hong Kong by the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering. He said the internship allowed him to understand more about the Government’s structure and establishment, adding that he has learnt a lot during the visits to various government departments and public organisations.
Mr Yuen had planned to apply for the AO post before joining the internship programme. He said he appreciated both the inspiration and satisfaction from the internship experience, which has further strengthened his determination to become an AO.
The following is issued on behalf of the Communications Authority:
This press release summarises the decisions of the Communications Authority (CA) following its 77th meeting held in July 2018:
Breach by SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited (SmarTone) of Special Condition 4.4 of its Unified Carrier Licence in relation to mobile number porting
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Between February and March 2018, the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) received a total of 11 consumer complaints relating to the porting of their mobile numbers from their original mobile service providers to Birdie Mobile Limited, a reseller of SmarTone’s mobile services, without the consent of the consumers concerned. OFCA conducted an investigation into the complaints. Having considered the assessment of OFCA and the representations of SmarTone, the CA concluded that SmarTone had breached Special Condition 4.4 of its Unified Carrier Licence in relation to the regulatory requirements on mobile number porting. The CA decided to issue a warning to SmarTone. For details, please refer to the CA’s Decision published on the CA’s website (www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/statement/en/upload/458/Smartone_Final_Decision_e.pdf).
Application for a non-domestic television programme service (non-domestic TV) licence by China Silk TV Road International Media Group Limited (SRTV)
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The CA decided to reject the application of SRTV for a non-domestic TV licence.
In processing SRTV’s application, the CA has assessed the application in accordance with the assessment criteria set out in the “Guidance Note for Those Interested in Applying for Non-domestic Television Programme Service Licences in Hong Kong” issued by the CA. These criteria include financial and managerial capability, commitment to invest, technical competence and experience, programme sources for the proposed programming plan and the extent to which the terms of the licence and any laws and relevant ordinances are likely to be observed. After considering all the documents and information submitted by SRTV as well as the representations of SRTV in response to CA’s provisional decision, the CA concluded that SRTV failed to demonstrate that it has the financial capability to provide the proposed service and its application should be rejected.
Renewal of the other licensable television programme service (other licensable TV) licence of Movielink (Hong Kong) Limited (Movielink)
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The CA approved the application by Movielink for renewal of its other licensable TV licence for the provision of television programme service to hotel rooms in Hong Kong for 12 years, from July 9, 2019, to July 8, 2031 (both dates inclusive). Including Movielink, there are 22 other licensable TV licensees providing services to more than 70 hotels in Hong Kong. read more
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (July 26) a publication entitled "Women and Men in Hong Kong – Key Statistics (2018 Edition)". This publicati… read more